Infant sleeping garment



April 20, 1954 KEMPNER, JR 2,675,557

INFANT SLEEPING GARMENT Filed April 30, 1952 K NVENTOR Alan, H. Kenzprzer, J7:

CZZZezF.J57Za/mw ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to garments and is more particularly concerned with garments for the protection of infants when they are sleeping or resting in their cribs.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of an infant garment for the purpose indicated which can be quickly attached to and removed from the infant.

Another object is the provision of such a garment which does not interfere with or restrain the movements of the arms and legs of the infant and which does not have to be removed when it is necessary to change diapers, determine the temperature of the infant rectally or to treat or examine the lower part of his body for other purposes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an infant sleeping garment which is adjustable so as to accommodate the infant as he grows larger during the early part of his life.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a garment which provides positive support and protection for the small of the infant's back.

A still further object is the provision of such a garment which contains means for preventing the garment from shifting upwardly over the infants face, thereby obviating the danger of suffocation.

A still further object is the provision of an infant sleeping garment which is neat appearing, easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and resistant to wear.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent and fully understood from the following description, considered together with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention in its fully opened position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same embodiment in its folded position.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment in its folded position.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the various views, the embodiment illustrated comprises an elongated strip of material II, preferably of the soft and fluffy blanket type, having an opening I2 for the neck of the infant. The material on one side of the opening I2 is separated and the separated ends are provided with complementary elements comprising snap fasteners I3 and I4 to permit placing this portion of the garment about the infants neck and shoulders. However, it is within the scope of this invention to provide a similar separation on the other side of the opening with similar fasteners. Also other types of fasteners, such as buttons, zippers, etc., may be used, if desired, although the snap fasteners illustrated are preferred.

Extending from the opening I2, the garment on one side has a long panel I5 and on the other side a short panel I6. The long panel I5 constitutes the bottom of the garment which is adapted to lie underneath the infants back and is sufiiciently long to accommodate his body. The shorter panel I6 is for the front of the infant's body and is adapted to lie as a cover thereon.

The outer edge of the panel I6 is tapered forming a triangular section H which normally lies between the infants lower limbs.

Offset from the opening I2, there is provided, integral with the panel I6, outwardly extending flaps I8 and I9, one on either side. The flaps are adapted to be lapped over each other across the small of the infant's back and secured to each other by snap fasteners 20, the complementary elements of which are designated by the numerals 2| and 22, respectively. Two or more rows of such snap fasteners are preferably provided, to accommodate the infant as he grows larger.

In order to prevent longitudinal slippage of the flaps, loops formed by slit openings 23 and 24 are provided in the back panel I5 through which the flaps I8 and I9 are threaded, respectively, before being secured together with the snap fas teners 20, as illustrated. Although such slit openings are preferred, it is also within the scope of this invention to provide, in lieu thereof, ordinary belt loops.

To maintain the panels I5 and I6 in proper relative position on the infant and to prevent the garment as a whole from creeping up over the infant's face, in which event there would be danger of suffocation, a retaining strap 25, preferably elastic, is provided for disposition between the lower limbs of the infant. One end of the strap 25 is looped about a short strap 26 sewed or otherwise secured to the top side of the back panel I5 and secured in this position with one of a series of snap fasteners 21. The other end of the strap is secured by a snap fastener 28, having complementary members 29 and 30, to the bottom side of the upper panel I6. The series of snap fasteners 21 permit adjusting the length of the strap for different size infants.

If desired, all or a portion of the garment may be made waterproof on the sides adjacent the infant. For example, waterproof pieces may be permanently or temporarily attached over the triangular piece I! and on the lower portion of the bottom panel l5 in the areas delineated by the dotted lines 3i and 32 shown in Fig. 1. The waterproof pieces may be made integral with the garment, such as by sewing, or removable, such as by the use of snap fasteners, zippers, or other suitable means, such means being already well known in the art. Similarly, a waterproof neckpiece or bib may be provided about the opening i2 over the area delineated by the dotted line 33, as shown, either integral or removable, as

protection against perspiration about the neck, or against saliva, water, milk, or other fluids which may be orally rejected by the infant or accidently spilled from a nursing bottle or other sources.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An infant garment comprising a strip of soft blanket-type material adapted to be folded along a transverse line. to form front and back panels, a portion of the material along said line having an opening for the reception of the neck of the infant, a back supporting flap of similar material extending outwardly from each side of the front panel, said flaps being adapted to underlie at least a portion of the back panel, said back panel having loops for receiving said flaps, means for securing the flaps together against the back panel, said flaps when so secured forming an armhole closure between the panels, and a retaining strap secured to one of said panels and adapted to cooperatively engage the other panel.

2. An infant garment as defined by claim 1 in which the back panel has slit openings to form the said loops.

3. An infant garment as defined by claim 1 in which the retaining strap is elastic.

4. An infant garment as defined by claim 1 and means for adjusting the length of the retaining strap.

5. An infant garment as defined by claim 1 in which the outer end of the front panel is tapered.

6. An infant garment as defined by claim 1 in which the panels are separated from each other on at least one side of the neck opening forming adjacent edges, and means for removably securing said edges to each other.

'7. An infant garment comprising a strip of material adapted to be folded along a transverse line to form a back panel and a front panel, a portion of the material along said line having an opening for the reception of the neck of the infant, said panels being separated from each other on at least one side of said opening forming adjacent edges, means for removably' securing said edges to each other, a fiap extending late erally from each side of the front panel, said flaps being adapted to overlap each other on the back panel, slit openings in the back panel forming loops for receiving said flaps, an elastic re.- tainingstrap secured to one of said panels and adapted to cooperatively engage the other panel, and means for adjusting the length of said strap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 881,640 Wirnmel Mar. 10, 1908' 2,170,703 Wa-xman et a1. Aug. 22, 1939 2,498,471 Williams Feb. 21, 1950 Mme-a; 

